Regardless of whether you’re planning on backpacking around South America or taking a luxury cruise through the Mediterranean, there is one thing that bugs all travellers – disorganised luggage! Mixing your clothes up will at best see you wearing dirty socks, and at worst, see your clean clothes pick up the sweaty odour of the old ones. However, there is a way around it.
Packing cubes for travelling are becoming more and more popular. These handy pieces of kit keep your things organised, meaning you’ll always know where everything is and where it should go once you’ve finished with it. But how do you pick the right cubes? Well, our buying guide will give you the top tips on how to set the better ones apart from the rest. We’ll then show you some of the best packing cubes for travel available in the UK.
Before we dive straight in, we just wanted to touch on what a packing cube is, why they’ve become so popular and how to use them. Regardless of whether you're using a suitcase or a backpack while travelling, most pieces of luggage have one large compartment to fill. This leads people to the conundrum 'how should one fill the space whilst keeping it all organised?'
The packing cube itself is essentially another little bag that goes inside your big one, and its main advantage is organisation. Not only that, but they can help save space as they can be compressed, and they make the process of packing and unpacking much easier.
While many packing cubes will bear a resemblance to one another initially, there are a few factors to consider before hitting the 'Add to Cart' button. In this section, we’ll guide you through the differences between each so that you can find the right accessory for you.
No matter where you travel or the mode of transport you take, carrying a heavy bag is a burden that many of us would prefer to do without. Therefore, ensuring that your packing cubes don’t add too much weight is essential. Generally speaking, they shouldn’t weigh much on their own, but the overall weight of your suitcase can quickly add up when you start filling it.
Packing cubes tend to range in weight from 28 – 100 g, which is quite a difference, so it's definitely worth looking up. It’s also important to remember that the weight given in our spec table is per cube. So, if you have four cubes weighing 180 g each, the total weight of the set is 720 g.
When it comes to the materials used, more often than not, it's best to opt for a synthetic, such as polyester or nylon. These materials are more durable so can be thrown in and out of the bag for years to come. Plus, they don’t accumulate as much odour, which is useful when filling them with dirty clothes!
There are extra points to be given if the packing cubes also contain mesh, as this allows for further breathability, which is essential when travelling in warmer climates. That said, if you’re planning on visiting beaches, you’ll want to be wary of sand blocking up the mesh.
You can also find packing cubes made of natural fibres such as cotton. These can work just as well, however, they're less likely to have a mesh component and will need frequent washing. Still, while they require more attention, their production is much better for the environment.
At mybest, we tend to steer clear of factors such as colour, as this is often a purely personal choice. However, when it comes to packing cubes, there's something to be said about opting for bright colours or, even better - colour-coded systems.
If you’re not using cubes to separate your entire luggage, then it can be easy to lose them amongst the rest of your belongings. Therefore, having bright greens, reds, or yellows can make the packs much easier and quicker to identify if you're in a rush.
On the other hand, if you’re using lots of different cubes, they can all look the same, which is why colour-coded systems can be super helpful. In fact, some cases will even have numbers so you can be extra organised!
Finally, you’ll want to think about the number of packing cubes that come in your order. Of course, while many would assume the more the merrier, it’s worth thinking about the size of your bag, what you plan on using them for and how long you’re travelling before just loading up.
The amount of packing cubes in one purchase can be as little as one or as many as 12 - which is probably plenty for an average-sized family, so there's plenty of choice! As you’d expect, you’ll be able to save a little money when buying your cubes as a set.
Now that you've read our buying guide, hopefully, you feel a little more confident in knowing what to look for. So, without further ado, here are some of our favourites! From translucent sets that enable you to peek at what’s inside to bright green packs that you’ll never lose sight of, there’s a packing cube here for everyone.
£39.95
Weight | 148 g |
---|---|
Material | Unknown |
Colour | Charcoal |
Number of Cubes | 1 |
Dimensions | 32 x 32 x 17 cm |
£11.99
Weight | 200 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | EVA (plastic) |
Colour | Transparent |
Number of Cubes | 12 |
Dimensions | Various |
£12.99
Weight | 420 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | Cationic cotton |
Colour | Grey (Also available in black, beige, light blue, pink, yellow) |
Number of Cubes | 3 cubes, 4 other bags |
Dimensions | Various |
£35.45
Weight | 299 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | Nylon with mesh |
Colour | Red and grey |
Number of Cubes | 4 |
Dimensions | 37.9 x 21.4 x 7.3 cm |
£19.95
Weight | 480 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | Nylon with mesh |
Colour | Berry purple (also available in black, blue, leaf green, orange, red) |
Number of Cubes | 6 |
Dimensions | Various |
£23.99
Weight | 520 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | Polyester with mesh |
Colour | Black (also available in grey, burgundy, grey, navy, beige, blue, pink, purple) |
Number of Cubes | 4 |
Dimensions | Various |
£22.99
Weight | 650 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | Nylon with mesh |
Colour | Black (also available in blue) |
Number of Cubes | 6 |
Dimensions | Various |
£13.97
Weight | 250 g (total) |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Colour | Yellow, orange, pink and blue |
Number of Cubes | 4 |
Dimensions | 27.5 x 20 x 10 cm |
£26.94
Weight | 58.9 g (each) |
---|---|
Material | Nylon |
Colour | Lime green |
Number of Cubes | 3 |
Dimensions | Various |
£28.99
Weight | 28.35 g (each) |
---|---|
Material | Nylon with mesh |
Colour | White and green |
Number of Cubes | 3 |
Dimensions | Various |
Image | 1 ![]() Eagle Creek | 2 ![]() Osprey | 3 ![]() OW-Travel | 4 ![]() Foregoer | 5 ![]() Eono | 6 ![]() Savisto | 7 ![]() Compass Rose Travel Accessories | 8 ![]() TuTu Shop | 9 ![]() FISHSHOP | 10 ![]() Peak Design Store |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Pack-It Specter Full Cube Set | Ultralight Packing Cube Set | Easy to Organise Packing Cubes for Suitcases | Packing Cubes | Compression Packing Cubes | Packing Cubes | Slim Packing Cubes | Packing Cubes for Suitcases | Packing Cubes | Packing Cube |
Features | Probably the Best Packing Cubes Ever | A Cube Set From a Superb Backpacking Brand | Pack Like a Pro With This Colour-Coded Set | A Sleek Waterproof and Breathable Set | Cubes That Leave You Dressed to Impress | A Colourful Set Featured on ITV's Good Morning | Numbered Cubes for the Ultimate Organisation | True Minimalist Aesthetics | The Family-Sized Pack | This Innovative Design Opens With One Hand |
Price | £28.99 | £26.94 | £13.97 | £22.99 | £23.99 | £19.95 | £35.45 | £12.99 | £11.99 | £39.95 |
Weight | 28.35 g (each) | 58.9 g (each) | 250 g (total) | 650 g (total) | 520 g (total) | 480 g (total) | 299 g (total) | 420 g (total) | 200 g (total) | 148 g |
Material | Nylon with mesh | Nylon | Polyester | Nylon with mesh | Polyester with mesh | Nylon with mesh | Nylon with mesh | Cationic cotton | EVA (plastic) | Unknown |
Colour | White and green | Lime green | Yellow, orange, pink and blue | Black (also available in blue) | Black (also available in grey, burgundy, grey, navy, beige, blue, pink, purple) | Berry purple (also available in black, blue, leaf green, orange, red) | Red and grey | Grey (Also available in black, beige, light blue, pink, yellow) | Transparent | Charcoal |
Number of Cubes | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 cubes, 4 other bags | 12 | 1 |
Dimensions | Various | Various | 27.5 x 20 x 10 cm | Various | Various | Various | 37.9 x 21.4 x 7.3 cm | Various | Various | 32 x 32 x 17 cm |
Link |
If you're planning that much-needed trip away, take a look at our other travel-related product articles below. We've got a list of the perfect bags for backpacking holidays, luggage sets for you and the family, and even travel pillows to get that hard-earned kip on the aeroplane - don't worry, we've got you covered!
So, if you're keen on upping your packing game, we hope you've found plenty of information and inspiration in our article. Here's to having the most organised suitcase or backpack you've ever had, and fingers crossed, you shouldn't lose anything!
Author: Lewis Clark
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